Discussing the guidelines for maintaining farm roads today, some members of the National Assembly asked the finance minister to allow the local government to decide how best to use the budget in improving the roads. The finance ministry released Nu 3.1bn to maintain the farm roads in this financial year. However, some members say maintaining the roads as per the guidelines does not always benefit the users.
Highlighting the importance of farm roads for the farmers, Finance Minister Namgay Tshering said maintaining farm roads and making them better for all weather is one of the greatest achievements of this government.
While most of the members agree that farm road maintenance is benefiting all farmers, they said adhering to the guidelines without any room for changes sometimes wastes the fund.
“The most important issue raised by the people to us is the need to change the guidelines for implementing GSB. Among many problems in the guidelines, disallowing any developmental work for the roads except for laying GSB impedes development. They can’t do anything with the budget. Without retaining walls GSB laid roads do not stand a chance against the weather,” said Opposition Leader Dorji Wangdi.
“The current ToR allows only laying of GSB. Some areas are marshy and laying GSB is useless when it rains. When people request the government about maintaining the road through other means instead of laying GSB, it was not approved,” said Chhumig-Ura MP Karma Wangchuk.
However, Works and Human Settlement Minister Dorji Tshering said there is no hard and fast rule in the guidelines that state gewogs can’t use the fund for other road developmental projects. Lyonpo said gewogs can use the budget to build retaining walls or bridges if the allotted budget is enough.
“The budget is flexible. For example, last year in Tsirang, three farm roads were blacktopped from that budget. They can develop their farm roads in any way so long as it is within that budget,” Lyonpo said.
With the accusations and denials pointing to a communication gap between the government and enforcing agencies, Speaker Wangchuk Namgyel asked the government to resolve this:
“The government says it is flexible but the MPs say it is not allowed. There is clearly a communication gap. The government should resolve this with the 20 districts at the earliest.”
Tshering Zam
